DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tanya Mamala-Tumbaga held a pigeon that she eventually released yesterday in memory of her half- sister, Kahealani Indreginal. She sat with Kahealani's sister, Kuini Indreginal, left, and Mamala-Tumbaga's 11-month-old son, Ezra.
Police search homes Honolulu police searched four private residences last week in their efforts to find the six missing gold bracelets of 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal.
for girl’s jewelry
A second memorial for Kahealani
Indreginal is held as investigators
continue to look for 6 braceletsBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comHomicide Lt. Bill Kato would not say what led them to search the residences or where they were located. Police have not found any bracelets so far, he said.
Police last week also searched Pearl City pawn shops for the bracelets, despite the story told by Christopher Clayburn Aki, the man charged with Indreginal's murder, that he threw the bracelets in the trash.
"One or two of the bracelets have her name inscribed on them," said Kato. "We are continuing to search for those bracelets as well as for the murder weapon."
A source close to the investigation has said Aki told police that he beat Indreginal with a metal pipe at Keaiwa Heiau State Park on Dec. 10, then threw the pipe into the mouth of Halawa Stream where it empties into Pearl Harbor. Police divers searched the area last week but did not find the weapon.
Kato did not say where police would search next, only that divers would likely not be returning to Halawa Stream.
While police continue their investigation, Indreginal's family continues to search for closure.
A small group of the girl's loved ones gathered in Kawaiahao Church yesterday to say goodbye to her again. Although a funeral for Indreginal was held on Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary, the service at Kawaiahao fulfilled the family's wishes to have a church ceremony.
"The grief work they must go through doesn't end with one ceremony," said Kawaiahao interim pastor Kimo Merseberg. "What they said was that they wanted to bring closure before Christmas so that's why they went to Borthwick ... but the reality for them is that this death is very painful."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Family members gathered to release pigeons yesterday at the steps of Kawaiahao Church in memory of Kahealani Indreginal. From left were sisters Kuini Indreginal and Tanya Mamala-Tumbaga, mother Lehua Tumbaga, father Vincent Indreginal -- holding Kahealani's ashes -- and brothers Alika Tumbaga, Keola Tumbaga, Kawika Mamala-Tumbaga and Keahi Mamala-Indreginal.
Indreginal's aunt, Wendy Cacatian, said yesterday's service was held "to help us heal and say goodbye.
"We're really angry. Only the Lord can help us."
Indreginal was last seen on Dec. 10 at the Puuwai Momi Housing Complex where she and her family lived at Makalapa. After an extensive search by police, a hiker found her body on Dec. 13 in brush next to the Aiea Loop Trail.
Since then Aki, the boyfriend of Indreginal's half-sister, has admitted to police that he drove Indreginal up to the park to eat, became angry and beat her with the pipe, according to the source. Police have officially said that Aki has taken responsibility for the crime.
But at yesterday's service, Indreginal's family did not focus on how the sixth-grader's life ended. Instead, they reminisced about a girl who they described as beautiful, talented and intelligent beyond her years.
"She had an A+ average in school," said Cacatian about the Aiea Elementary School student. "Sometimes she would fake being well even though she was sick, just so she could go to school."
After the service, Indreginal's mother, Lehua Tumbaga, said: "She loved everything, that girl. She just loved everything."
The one-hour service started at 4:30 p.m. and was open to the public. Afterward Indreginal's brothers, sisters and cousins helped release 76 colored fantail pigeons into the air.
"With aloha we bring closure to her life on Earth," said Merseberg. "We give back her soul to God with love."
Star-Bulletin reporter Rosemarie Bernardo contributed to this report.
